How do you become a figure skating coach?

Question

How do you become a figure skating coach?

Answer 1

This differs greatly on where it is in world you want to teach. Here in the US, most rinks offer an apprentice program with in their skate school. Criteria for this position differ from rink to rink but most will expect you to be at a minimum freestyle level. It is an volunteer position. From there skaters will have the opportunity to learn how to teach basic skills from Senior coaches. Once you become old enough and have the proper qualifications you will need to become a member of the PSA and get liability insurance.

   If you are in Canada, they have a very structured program all coaches must go through through before receiving their coaching accreditations. Same goes for many of the European countries as well.

  Best to look into your local rink and ask their coaching staff for what is required as this differs from rink to rink.

Answer 2

Most figure skating club have an apprentice program working with the basic skills classes and eventually you would find your potential private students from these classes.

In our club in order to be a coach you have to follow the apprentice coach program. You must be 13 years old and have passed your intermediate field moves or freestyle. You would then volunteer 30 hours working with a coach in a basic skills class and once finished with that and  if your approve, you can teach your own class. Coaches starting out will usually find their private students from the group lessons by talking to the parents and letting them know that their child could benefit from taking private lesson with you  

If you don't have a program like this, try finding potential students by going open skating and finding clients that way. Make sure it's ok to teach on open skating ice from the rink management first.

I would hope that you are a seasoned skater that has tested at least to the Juvenile level and hopefully competed a few times before you coach.  

Answer 3

You can do it a number of ways and it sort of depends on you.  Most skating coaches were obviously skaters themselves; some in specific disciplines (dance, freestyle, synchro, moves, figures, etc.), others in multiple.  Typically, they try to get as many tests and credentials under their belt and then go off to get PSA (skatepsa.com) certified.   Some decide to coach in a specific area and some are a "jack of all trades."  

There are some higher level skaters who teach private lessons or group lessons to help pay for their own skating costs.  The skaters themselves are still competitive, testing and working on their own goals, but can teach the levels in group lessons.

Then again, there are people who don't have that much of a skating background and they still go on to coach.  In my area, I know of a coach who had a daugther that skated first.  She didn't skate much herself, but has now been coaching for years.  Would I take lessons from her or recommend her?  No, but she still gets students.  

Some coaches are adult skaters who have passed through the basics and taken some tests and also coach after a few years of setting their own skating foundation.  

So it sort of all depends on how prepared you want to be.  Teaching group lessons is a great way to not only get some coaching experience while you're doing other things, but it's also great for networking and building a name/reputation for yourself.  Many times, skater's parents or the skaters themselves may approach you for private lessons.  It's been my experience that even though I've been skating for a long time, I still want to get more tests passed before I go full boat into coaching.  I do have a few private lessons I teach and I teach group lessons frequently, but I'm trying to spend more time on my own skating now so I'm a more credible coach in the future!  :)